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Atithi satkara (Samskrit : अतिथिसत्कारः) or offering hospitality to an uninvited guest is ordained as the dharma of a grihasta, to be followed as a nityakriya. It has been an ancient practice to provide food, clothing and shelter to an uninvited guest, a traveller and to the needy; and towards this purpose annasatras, chatrams were constructed by Kings and was seen in households <blockquote>शरणागतस्य कर्तव्यमातिथ्यं हि प्रयत्नतः। पञ्चयज्ञप्रवृत्तेन गृहस्थेन विशेषतः॥ (Maha. Shan. 146.6)</blockquote><blockquote>पञ्चयज्ञांस्तु यो मोहान्न करोति गृहाश्रमे। तस्य नायं न च परो लोको भवति धर्मतः॥(Maha. Shan. 146.7)</blockquote>It is the  duty  of all to offer  hospitality  to the one who  comes to  their  house.  But  it  is  the  special duty  of  the  grhastha, the  householder,  who  is  committed  to  the  observance  of [[Panchamahayajnas (पञ्चमहायज्ञाः)|panchamahayajnas]]. The  grihastha who  is so immersed  in ignorance  that he  fails to perform panchamahayajnas  cannot  rightfully  obtain  a dignified  place, either  in  this world  or  in  the world hereafter.  

[[Atithi Satkara (अतिथिसत्कारः)|Atithi satkara]] (Samskrit : अतिथिसत्कारः) or offering hospitality to an uninvited guest is ordained as the dharma of a grhasta, to be followed as a nityakriya. It has been an ancient practice to provide food, clothing and shelter to an uninvited guest, a traveller and to the needy; and towards this purpose annasatras, chatrams were constructed by Rajas and was seen in households <blockquote>शरणागतस्य कर्तव्यमातिथ्यं हि प्रयत्नतः। पञ्चयज्ञप्रवृत्तेन गृहस्थेन विशेषतः॥ (Maha. Shan. 146.6)</blockquote><blockquote>पञ्चयज्ञांस्तु यो मोहान्न करोति गृहाश्रमे। तस्य नायं न च परो लोको भवति धर्मतः॥(Maha. Shan. 146.7)</blockquote><blockquote>''śaraṇāgatasya kartavyamātithyaṁ hi prayatnataḥ। pañcayajñapravr̥ttena gr̥hasthena viśeṣataḥ॥ (Maha. Shan. 146.6)''</blockquote><blockquote>''pañcayajñāṁstu yo mohānna karoti gr̥hāśrame। tasya nāyaṁ na ca paro loko bhavati dharmataḥ॥(Maha. Shan. 146.7)''</blockquote>It is the  duty  of all to offer  hospitality  to the one who  comes to  their  house.  But  it  is  the  special duty  of  the  grhastha, the  householder,  who  is  committed  to  the  observance  of [[Panchamahayajnas (पञ्चमहायज्ञाः)|panchamahayajnas]]. The  grhastha who  is so immersed  in ignorance  that he  fails to perform panchamahayajnas  cannot  rightfully  obtain  a dignified  place, either  in  this world  or  in  the world hereafter.  

Mahabharata (Shanti Parva 143 to 148) exemplifies the anecdote of a pious pigeon couple who in their performance of panchamahayajna, eventually offer themselves as food to their enemy, a hunter who has come for shelter under their tree residence, one stormy day.<ref name=":0">Bajaj, Jitendra and Mandayam, Srinivas. (1996) ''Annam Bahu Kurvita.'' Madras: Centre for Policy Studies Madras</ref>  

[[Mahabharata (महाभारतम्)|Mahabharata]] (Shanti Parva 143 to 148) exemplifies the anecdote of a pious pigeon couple who in their performance of panchamahayajna, eventually offer themselves as food to their enemy, a hunter who has come for shelter under their tree residence, one stormy day.<ref name=":0">Bajaj, Jitendra and Mandayam, Srinivas. (1996) ''Annam Bahu Kurvita.'' Madras: Centre for Policy Studies Madras</ref>  

=== Sharanagati of Hunter ===

=== Sharanagati of Hunter ===

One  day,  while  he  was  going  about  his  business  of  dispensing death  in  the  forest,  suddenly there  arose  a  vicious  storm.  Mighty winds began  to fell the trees, the  sky was overcast with dense  clouds, and  the  darkness  was broken  only  by the  occasional  glow  of  lightning.  Soon  it began  to  rain.  And  in  no  time  the  whole  earth  was covered  deep  in  water.

One  day,  while  he  was  going  about  his  business  of  dispensing death  in  the  forest,  suddenly there  arose  a  vicious  storm.  Mighty winds began  to fell the trees, the  sky was overcast with dense  clouds, and  the  darkness  was broken  only  by the  occasional  glow  of  lightning.  Soon  it began  to  rain.  And  in  no  time  the  whole  earth  was covered  deep  in  water.

The hunter  almost fainted  in  that incessant rain  and  the  sudden cold. He  lost his way. And  while moving around  wildly without  direction, he  could not  even  make out the mounts and  the  ditches in the forest. Around him he  saw droves of birds and herds  of  animals running  around  in great fright. Birds hid  themselves in their nests, animals sought out the  safety of  dry  high  lands.  But many perished  in  the  rain  and  cold.  The hunter  was  also  half-dead  with  cold.  He  could neither stand,  nor walk. <blockquote>स तु शीतहतैर्गात्रैर्न जगाम न तस्थिवान्। ददर्श पतितां भूमौ कपोतीं शीतविह्वलाम्॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.143.25)</blockquote>In this state he saw a she-pigeon lying on the ground. Suffering from severe cold, she  was unable to move or fly. The hunter too was in an  equally helpless condition. But, even then, by sheer  force of habit, he picked her up and  consigned her to the cage. Used to living in sin, he could  think  of nothing better even in  his hour  of intense  suffering.

The hunter  almost fainted  in  that incessant rain  and  the  sudden cold. He  lost his way. And  while moving around  wildly without  direction, he  could not  even  make out the mounts and  the  ditches in the forest. Around him he  saw droves of birds and herds  of  animals running  around  in great fright. Birds hid  themselves in their nests, animals sought out the  safety of  dry  high  lands.  But many perished  in  the  rain  and  cold.  The hunter  was  also  half-dead  with  cold.  He  could neither stand,  nor walk. <blockquote>स तु शीतहतैर्गात्रैर्न जगाम न तस्थिवान्। ददर्श पतितां भूमौ कपोतीं शीतविह्वलाम्॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.143.25)</blockquote><blockquote>''sa tu śītahatairgātrairna jagāma na tasthivān। dadarśa patitāṁ bhūmau kapotīṁ śītavihvalām॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.143.25)''</blockquote>In this state he saw a she-pigeon lying on the ground. Suffering from severe cold, she  was unable to move or fly. The hunter too was in an  equally helpless condition. But, even then, by sheer  force of habit, he picked her up and  consigned her to the cage. Used to living in sin, he could  think  of nothing better even in  his hour  of intense  suffering.

Then,  all of a sudden, he  saw a big tree. Its  foliage  was thick,  dense and  dark  like  a cloud. Numerous  birds, seeking shade, shelter  and fruit,  had  made  it their home. It seemed  as  if the tree,  like  a  saint, had  taken  form  only for  the  purpose  of serving others.  As soon  as the hunter saw that tree, the clouds began  to break, and bright  stars began  to shine  through.

Then,  all of a sudden, he  saw a big tree. Its  foliage  was thick,  dense and  dark  like  a cloud. Numerous  birds, seeking shade, shelter  and fruit,  had  made  it their home. It seemed  as  if the tree,  like  a  saint, had  taken  form  only for  the  purpose  of serving others.  As soon  as the hunter saw that tree, the clouds began  to break, and bright  stars began  to shine  through.

=== Pativrata Qualities ===

=== Pativrata Qualities ===

As luck would  have  it, there  lived  a beautiful  spotted  pigeon  on that  tree with  all his  relatives. His wife  had  been  away in  search  of grain since the morning. She had not returned  in the evening. And as the  night  fell,  the  pigeon  began  to worry  about  her. When  the hunter  reached the  tree,  the  pigeon  was  crying  for  his  dear  wife, recalling  her  beauty and  her  unswerving faithfulness. <blockquote>धर्मार्थकामकालेषु भार्या पुंसः सहायिनी। विदेशगमने चास्य सैव विश्वासकारिका॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.144.13)</blockquote><blockquote>नास्ति भार्यासमो बन्धुर्नास्ति भार्यासमा गतिः। नास्ति भार्यासमो लोके सहायो धर्मसङ्ग्रहे॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.144.16)</blockquote><blockquote>यस्य भार्या गृहे नास्ति साध्वी च प्रियवादिनी। अरण्यं तेन गन्तव्यं यथारण्यं तथा गृहम्॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.144.17)</blockquote>A wife is the faithful companion for a man in Dharma, Artha, and Kama. He  recalled the  way she provided  him  constant  companionship  and  unerring assistance  in  all difficult  situations. And  he wondered what kind  of a  place  would  his home be if his  loving  and caring wife were not there to enliven  it with  her  pleasant  speech?  Would  such a  home be  any different  from  the wild  forest?  

As luck would  have  it, there  lived  a beautiful  spotted  pigeon  on that  tree with  all his  relatives. His wife  had  been  away in  search  of grain since the morning. She had not returned  in the evening. And as the  night  fell,  the  pigeon  began  to worry  about  her. When  the hunter  reached the  tree,  the  pigeon  was  crying  for  his  dear  wife, recalling  her  beauty and  her  unswerving faithfulness. <blockquote>धर्मार्थकामकालेषु भार्या पुंसः सहायिनी। विदेशगमने चास्य सैव विश्वासकारिका॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.144.13)</blockquote><blockquote>नास्ति भार्यासमो बन्धुर्नास्ति भार्यासमा गतिः। नास्ति भार्यासमो लोके सहायो धर्मसङ्ग्रहे॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.144.16)</blockquote><blockquote>यस्य भार्या गृहे नास्ति साध्वी च प्रियवादिनी। अरण्यं तेन गन्तव्यं यथारण्यं तथा गृहम्॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.144.17)</blockquote><blockquote>''dharmārthakāmakāleṣu bhāryā puṁsaḥ sahāyinī। videśagamane cāsya saiva viśvāsakārikā॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.144.13)''</blockquote><blockquote>''nāsti bhāryāsamo bandhurnāsti bhāryāsamā gatiḥ। nāsti bhāryāsamo loke sahāyo dharmasaṅgrahe॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.144.16)''</blockquote><blockquote>''yasya bhāryā gr̥he nāsti sādhvī ca priyavādinī। araṇyaṁ tena gantavyaṁ yathāraṇyaṁ tathā gr̥ham॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.144.17)''</blockquote>A wife is the faithful companion for a man in Dharma, Artha, and Kama. He  recalled the  way she provided  him  constant  companionship  and  unerring assistance  in  all difficult  situations. And  he wondered what kind  of a  place  would  his home be if his  loving  and caring wife were not there to enliven  it with  her  pleasant  speech?  Would  such a  home be  any different  from  the wild  forest?  

=== Hospitality to Hunter ===

=== Hospitality to Hunter ===

His wife, ensnared  in  the hunter's  cage, heard  him wailing  thus for her. And she felt greatly fulfilled.  If her husband was so intensely pleased with her, there  was nothing more that she wanted in  the world. Forgetting her own woes, she could think only of  protecting the dharma of her husband. And she advised him that he had  a guest in the house, and it was his primary duty to look after him. He  should  therefore  stop worrying about  her  and  prepare to offer proper hospitality to the hunter.  She even  advised her husband that he had  been  blessed with  sons and daughters, he  had  already fulfilled himself, and therefore he need  not be constrained  to protect his own  body while arranging  the  necessary hospitality for the guest.

His wife, ensnared  in  the hunter's  cage, heard  him wailing  thus for her. And she felt greatly fulfilled.  If her husband was so intensely pleased with her, there  was nothing more that she wanted in  the world. Forgetting her own woes, she could think only of  protecting the dharma of her husband. And she advised him that he had  a guest in the house, and it was his primary duty to look after him. He  should  therefore  stop worrying about  her  and  prepare to offer proper hospitality to the hunter.  She even  advised her husband that he had  been  blessed with  sons and daughters, he  had  already fulfilled himself, and therefore he need  not be constrained  to protect his own  body while arranging  the  necessary hospitality for the guest.

The  pigeon almost  cried  with  pleasure  on  listening  to  the  sage advice of his wife. And immediately, he  offered  himself  and  his house  at  the  service  of  that  cruel  guest. He graciously welcomed the  hunter, asked  him  to  feel  free  as  if he  were  in  his  own  house, and lovingly enquired  after  his  needs. The  pigeon  also  reassured him  that he, the hunter, had come to his house and  even an  enemy coming  thus ought  to be  offered  proper  welcome. After all, a tree does not withdraw  its shade  from  the one who  comes  to  it with  the intention  of cutting  it down:  <blockquote>अरावप्युचितं कार्यमातिथ्यं गृहमागते। छेत्तुमप्यागते छायां नोपसंहरते द्रुमः॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.146.5)</blockquote>The  hunter,  accepting  the  offer  of  hospitality  from  the  pigeon requested  him  to  find  a  way  of saving  him  from  the  biting  cold. The  pigeon  gathered  a  large  heap  of  dry  leaves, and  then flew  to the  blacksmith  to  bring  fire.  Soon  he  had  a  big  blaze  going.  The hunter  luxuriously warmed  himself up on  the  fire.  He  was relieved of the  cold. And  then  he began  to feel  the pangs  of  hunger.  

The  pigeon almost  cried  with  pleasure  on  listening  to  the  sage advice of his wife. And immediately, he  offered  himself  and  his house  at  the  service  of  that  cruel  guest. He graciously welcomed the  hunter, asked  him  to  feel  free  as  if he  were  in  his  own  house, and lovingly enquired  after  his  needs. The  pigeon  also  reassured him  that he, the hunter, had come to his house and  even an  enemy coming  thus ought  to be  offered  proper  welcome. After all, a tree does not withdraw  its shade  from  the one who  comes  to  it with  the intention  of cutting  it down:  <blockquote>अरावप्युचितं कार्यमातिथ्यं गृहमागते। छेत्तुमप्यागते छायां नोपसंहरते द्रुमः॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.146.5)</blockquote><blockquote>''arāvapyucitaṁ kāryamātithyaṁ gr̥hamāgate। chettumapyāgate chāyāṁ nopasaṁharate drumaḥ॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.146.5)''</blockquote>The  hunter,  accepting  the  offer  of  hospitality  from  the  pigeon requested  him  to  find  a  way  of saving  him  from  the  biting  cold. The  pigeon  gathered  a  large  heap  of  dry  leaves, and  then flew  to the  blacksmith  to  bring  fire.  Soon  he  had  a  big  blaze  going.  The hunter  luxuriously warmed  himself up on  the  fire.  He  was relieved of the  cold. And  then  he began  to feel  the pangs  of  hunger.  

=== Annardham Atmarpana ===

=== Annardham Atmarpana ===

There  was  of  course  no  food  accumulated  in  the  nest  of  the host.  He was  a  pigeon,  who ate as he  picked the grains.  He had no occasion to put away any of the grains he picked for use at a later  time.  For once he felt unhappy about such livelihood of a pigeon.  Of what use was this livelihood that left him with nothing for entertaining the guests at his  door?

There  was  of  course  no  food  accumulated  in  the  nest  of  the host.  He was  a  pigeon,  who ate as he  picked the grains.  He had no occasion to put away any of the grains he picked for use at a later  time.  For once he felt unhappy about such livelihood of a pigeon.  Of what use was this livelihood that left him with nothing for entertaining the guests at his  door?

But, whatever be the kind of livelihood assigned  to him, he could hardly allow a guest  to go hungry. He, therefore, thought for  some time and, quickly making up  his mind, gathered  some more leaves and  let  the  fire  blaze  high  again. He  told  the  hunter  that he  had no food  to offer  him, but requested him to accept his body  instead. With  this request and with the resolve to satiate the hunger of  his guest, he went  around  the fire  thrice and then dropped himself into the blaze.<blockquote>निश्चिता खलु मे बुद्धिरतिथिप्रतिपूजयने॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.146.22)</blockquote><blockquote>ततः कृतप्रतिज्ञो वै स पक्षी प्रहसन्निव। तमग्निं त्रिःपरिक्रम्य प्रविवेश महामतिः॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.146.23)</blockquote>The  hunter  was shocked  to the  core  of his being. He  had  seen  the pigeon  so  gladly  sacrificing himself to honour  and satisfy an unworthy guest like him. He could no more bear to continue the life he had  been leading till then.  He quickly released the she-pigeon that he had encaged, and leaving behind  everything - the  stick, the torch, the snare and the cage —he set out on a great journey,  that would  lead to  his death, with the resolve that he would follow the example of the pigeon and bring himself back to the life of dharma by incessant fasting and by undertaking great austerities.

But, whatever be the kind of livelihood assigned  to him, he could hardly allow a guest  to go hungry. He, therefore, thought for  some time and, quickly making up  his mind, gathered  some more leaves and  let  the  fire  blaze  high  again. He  told  the  hunter  that he  had no food  to offer  him, but requested him to accept his body  instead. With  this request and with the resolve to satiate the hunger of  his guest, he went  around  the fire  thrice and then dropped himself into the blaze.<blockquote>निश्चिता खलु मे बुद्धिरतिथिप्रतिपूजयने॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.146.22)</blockquote><blockquote>ततः कृतप्रतिज्ञो वै स पक्षी प्रहसन्निव। तमग्निं त्रिःपरिक्रम्य प्रविवेश महामतिः॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.146.23)</blockquote><blockquote>''niścitā khalu me buddhiratithipratipūjayane॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.146.22)''</blockquote><blockquote>''tataḥ kr̥tapratijño vai sa pakṣī prahasanniva। tamagniṁ triḥparikramya praviveśa mahāmatiḥ॥ (Maha. Shan. 12.146.23)''</blockquote>The  hunter  was shocked  to the  core  of his being. He  had  seen  the pigeon  so  gladly  sacrificing himself to honour  and satisfy an unworthy guest like him. He could no more bear to continue the life he had  been leading till then.  He quickly released the she-pigeon that he had encaged, and leaving behind  everything - the  stick, the torch, the snare and the cage —he set out on a great journey,  that would  lead to  his death, with the resolve that he would follow the example of the pigeon and bring himself back to the life of dharma by incessant fasting and by undertaking great austerities.

=== Attaining Svarga ===

=== Attaining Svarga ===

<blockquote>मितं ददाति हि पिता मितं भ्राता मितं सुतः॥ 12-148-6</blockquote><blockquote>अमितस्य हि दातारं भर्तारं का न पूजयेत्। नास्ति भर्तृसमो नाथो नास्ति भर्तृसमं सुखम्॥ 12-148-7</blockquote>The  she-pigeon, released from the  cage, began  to  recall the happy times she had spent with her husband. The qualities of a good husband reverberate in her words - A father, brother, and son can only give limited happiness to a woman, what she gains in the company of her husband is endless or infinite. Such a husband, which lady does not revere? For a woman, there is no greater protector than the husband and no greater happiness than him; for whose sake she foregoes wealth and ultimately even her ownself.<ref>Shastri, Ramnarayanadatta Pandey. ''[https://archive.org/stream/Mahabharata04SanskritHindiPanditRamnarayanGitaPress/Mahabharata05_Sanskrit-hindi_panditRamnarayan_gitaPress#page/n433/mode/2up Mahabharata Volume 5 (With Hindi Translation)]'' Gorakhpur : Gita Press</ref>

<blockquote>मितं ददाति हि पिता मितं भ्राता मितं सुतः॥ 12-148-6</blockquote><blockquote>अमितस्य हि दातारं भर्तारं का न पूजयेत्। नास्ति भर्तृसमो नाथो नास्ति भर्तृसमं सुखम्॥ 12-148-7</blockquote><blockquote>''mitaṁ dadāti hi pitā mitaṁ bhrātā mitaṁ sutaḥ॥ 12-148-6''</blockquote><blockquote>''amitasya hi dātāraṁ bhartāraṁ kā na pūjayet। nāsti bhartr̥samo nātho nāsti bhartr̥samaṁ sukham॥ 12-148-7''</blockquote>The  she-pigeon, released from the  cage, began  to  recall the happy times she had spent with her husband. The qualities of a good husband reverberate in her words - A father, brother, and son can only give limited happiness to a woman, what she gains in the company of her husband is endless or infinite. Such a husband, which lady does not revere? For a woman, there is no greater protector than the husband and no greater happiness than him; for whose sake she foregoes wealth and ultimately even her ownself.<ref>Shastri, Ramnarayanadatta Pandey. ''[https://archive.org/stream/Mahabharata04SanskritHindiPanditRamnarayanGitaPress/Mahabharata05_Sanskrit-hindi_panditRamnarayan_gitaPress#page/n433/mode/2up Mahabharata Volume 5 (With Hindi Translation)]'' Gorakhpur : Gita Press</ref>

Thus, unable to bear the pain of separation, the she-pigeon too jumped into the  fire. Soon  she was united  with  her  husband,  and  the  two of them  together  ascended to the heavens in  a celestial chariot, escorted by hundreds  of crores of men  of great virtue, each  of whom was sitting in his own celestial chariot.

Thus, unable to bear the pain of separation, the she-pigeon too jumped into the  fire. Soon  she was united  with  her  husband,  and  the  two of them  together  ascended to the heavens in  a celestial chariot, escorted by hundreds  of crores of men  of great virtue, each  of whom was sitting in his own celestial chariot.

The  hunter, overcoming all temptations, entered a deep and inhospitable  forest, full of thorny shrubs and savage beasts. Soon he was consumed by a great forest-fire, which cleansed him of all his sins; and thus he too found a distinguished  abode in the heavens.

The  hunter, overcoming all temptations, entered a deep and inhospitable  forest, full of thorny shrubs and savage beasts. Soon he was consumed by a great forest-fire, which cleansed him of all his sins; and thus he too found a distinguished  abode in the heavens.

Thus did the  sage pigeon-couple  serve their guest, and fulfilled  the dharma  of  grhasthasrama. Their  commitment  to  dharma  was,  of course,  extraordinary.  Through  such  commitment  they not only earned  a  place  for  themselves  in  the  heavens,  but  also  brought  a violent person,  like  the hunter,  back  to  righteousness  and  opened the path  of heavens  for  him.

Thus did the  sage pigeon-couple  serve their guest, and fulfilled  the dharma  of  [[Grhasthashrama (गृहस्थाश्रमः)|grhasthashrama]]. Their  commitment  to  dharma  was,  of course,  extraordinary.  Through  such  commitment  they not only earned  a  place  for  themselves  in  the  heavens,  but  also  brought  a violent person,  like  the hunter,  back  to  righteousness  and  opened the path  of heavens  for  him.

== References ==

== References ==

[[Category:Danas]]

[[Category:Danas]]

[[Category:Annadana]]

[[Category:Annadana]]